NHRA POWERade Series Top Fuel world champion Tony
Schumacher has been named the 2008 DRIVER OF THE YEAR, it was announced
today by Barry Schmoyer, president of the Driver of the Year Foundation,
based in Sarasota, Fla.

Schumacher, from Chicago, had a dominating season behind the wheel of
his U.S. Army dragster and becomes only the third NHRA driver to win the
DRIVER OF THE YEAR award in its 42-year history. Funny Car icon John
Force also won the prestigious award in 1996 and Pro Stock great Greg
Anderson claimed the trophy in 2004. Other past winners have included
such racing greats as Mario Andretti, who was the first winner in 1967,
Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Darrell Waltrip.

Tony Schumacher

Schumacher raced to 15 victories and won his fifth consecutive and sixth
overall NHRA POWERade Series world championship crown during a
record-breaking 2008 season. He was also named the DRIVER OF THE YEAR
third quarter winner.

"What an honor it is to be singled out as the Driver of the Year for
2008," Schumacher said. "I'm happy that the NHRA is front and center
again with this award. It's been a few years since Greg Anderson won it.
Of course, John Force also won it in 1996. You can't forget the living
legend himself.

"Needless to say, I wouldn't be receiving any post-season award without
the talented team that surrounded me this past season. My crew chief,
Alan Johnson, and the entire crew deserve all the credit in the world.
There's no denying the fact that we had one of those dream seasons."

The DRIVER OF THE YEAR title is unique because a select panel of 18
leading journalists and broadcasters from across the U.S. are the only
eligible voters via a secret ballot. The vote usually comes down to one
or two drivers, however this year proved to be particularly difficult
for the panel. In the final tally it was one of the closest votes in the
history of the award, with Schumacher getting six votes, while NASCAR's
Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards each received five votes. Kyle Busch and
Tony Stewart, also from NASCAR, received one vote each.

"Usually one driver has a standout season, but this year there were a
handful of guys who were all viable candidates for this award," Schmoyer
said.

Schumacher will be presented with a trophy and Tissot wristwatch next
April at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega, Ala.

Tom Compton Quote -Tony Schumacher Named Driver of the Year:

"It is an incredible accomplishment and a testament to the high level
of commitment and teamwork showcased by Tony Schumacher and the entire
U.S. Army team during the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing season," said
Tom Compton, president, NHRA. "It is a prestigious honor that only two
other NHRA drivers - John Force and Greg Anderson - have previously won
in the long history of the award. On behalf of NHRA and all of its
competitors, we appreciate the media that recognized the outstanding
accomplishments put together by Tony and the U.S. Army team against some
extremely tough competition."

Tony Schumacher 2008 Accomplishments:
*Won fifth consecutive and sixth overall Top Fuel world championship
*First driver in NHRA history to win five consecutive Top Fuel championships
*Moved past NHRA legend Joe Amato to become the all-time Top Fuel wins leader (56 victories); ranks
sixth in victories among all NHRA pro drivers
*Established Top Fuel records for most championship titles (6), career victories (56), season wins
(15), consecutive wins (7), consecutive final rounds (11), most final rounds (18), consecutive
round wins (31)
*Tied all-time NHRA record for wins in a season (15, Greg Anderson in 2004) and elimination round
wins in a season (76, Greg Anderson in 2004)
*Raced to 15 victories in 18 final round appearances in 24 events; His eliminations round winning
percentage was 90%
*Won prestigious U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis for the sixth time in his career
*Swept the Western Swing (won trio of races at Denver, Seattle in Sonoma, Calif. in consecutive
weeks); only the sixth driver in NHRA history to accomplish the feat
*Raced to nine No. 1 qualifying performances
*Clinched championship title during qualifying at penultimate race (Las Vegas 2)